Mucking machine



Nov. 10, 1942. A. R. BIEDEss 2,301,241

MUCKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 2l, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet l lllllrl Nov. 1o, 1942. A. R. BIEDESS 2,301,241

MUCKING MACHINE Filed'Jan. 21, 1941 5 sheets-sheet 2 53 50 50 5 O n-llm n "m" @a/'H5071' Nov. 10, 1942. A. R. BIEDEss MUCKING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 2l, 1941 5 Sheets--Sheet 4 A. R. BlEEss MUCKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 21, 1941 Nov. l0, 1942.

@N ww ,NW E QNKWRJ Nov. l0, 1942. A. R. BIEDEss MUCKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 21, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov. 1.0, 1942 MUCKING MACHINE Anthony R. Bedess, Chicago, Ill., assgnor to Goodman Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application January 21, 1941, Serial No. 375,214

l Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in mucking machines of the general type known as Conway machines, illustrated in Patent No. 1,514,008 issued to J. P. Mosier on November 4, 1924, which machines have been used extensively in tunnels or mines for shovelling rock or muck and delivering it to cars.

Among the objects of my invention is to provide an improved, simplified and more compact construction especially adapted for relatively small and light weight machines of the above named type, but not necessarily limited to such machines. A further object is to provide a cushioning and automatic pressure relief mechanism for the boom operable to reduce the tendency to derail the machine under excessive forward crowding pressures. Other objects are to provide an improved buffer and centering device for the boom, an improved cushioning device for the conveyer belt, and an improved drive mechanism for operating the .boom and propelling the machine.

Still other objects of my invention will appear from time to time as the accompanying description proceeds.

The invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a view in side elevation of a mucking machine constructed in accordance with my invention, showing the boom in forward, crowding position (full lines) and in upward discharging position (dotted lines).

Figure 2 is a plan view in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail plan view of the boom.

Figure 4 is a detail side view of the boom, with the crowd relief mechanism in normal position.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, but showing the crowd relief mechanism in partially released position.

Figure 6 is a transverse detail section taken on line 6 6 of Figure 3.

Figure '7 is a detail plan view of the front end of the conveyer, with the hopper removed to show details of the cushioning device.

Figure 8 is a detail longitudinal section of the front end of the conveyer.

Figure 9 is an enlarged detail of one of the spring mountings for the cushioning device at one side of the conveyer.

Figure 10 is an enlarged cross section taken on line IIJ-I0 of Figure 7, showing the conveyer belt in normal, unloaded position.

of the machine shown Figure 11 is a View similar to Figure 10, but showing the conveyer belt in loaded position, with the cushioning device depressed.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary plan view of the chassis of the machine taken in a generally horizontal plane, showing details of the power transmission mechanism, with parts broken away to show details of the gearing.

Referring now to details of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the drawings, the machine comprises generally a truck or main frame I0 mounted on track wheels II, II and axles I2, I2 and forming a support for a scoop I3 carried in advance thereof on a boom |44. Said scoop and boom are so arranged that said scoop may gather material in front of and to each side of the track by movement of the truck along the track, the scoop, when loaded, being swingable upwardly to discharge the material directly upon an upwardly inclined conveyer, indicated generally at I 5, extending beyond the rear end of the truck.

The conveyer I5, as herein shown, includes a belt I6 trained about a drive roller II'at the ront end and an idler roller I8 at the rear end of said conveyer. Further details of the conveyer and its drive mechanism will hereinafter more fully appear.

The scoop I3 is pivoted at opposite sides on the boom I4 so as to be open forwardly with its digging lip 2U at a depressed angle as it is forced into the material, to gather the latter, as shown in full lines in Figure 1. The rear end of the boom is connected by a universal joint 2I at the front end of the truck so that the scoop can be swung for digging at various angles in front of the machine. The boom is swung upwardly for discharge on the front end of the conveyer I5, as indicated in dotted lines in the same gure. The scoop I3 is elevated to a discharge position and swung from side to side by means of a pair of cables 22, 22 connected to opposite sides of the upper corners thereof. Said cables are wound on or payed off of a pair of winding drums 23. 23 mounted on a transverse shaft 24, Details of the driving and control means ior said winding drums will hereinafter more fully appear.

From each of the drums 23, the cables 22 pass over horizontally journaled guide rollers 25, 'respectively mounted on a cross shaft 33 extending between upright support members 26 at the opposite sides of the truck, and overhanging the front end thereof. When both of the cables are wound in, the scoop will be elevated directly to a discharge position. When it is desired to swing the scoop to one side or the other, power is applied to the winding drum on the side it is desired to swing. The general mode of operation of the scoop just described is similar to that employed in'previous mucking machines of the Conway type, excepting that in the present instance, the material is discharged from the scoop directly onto the conveyer, instead of being passed along an intermediate chute on the boom, and thence discharged onto the conveyer.

Referring now more particularly to the novel features of construction or" the boom i4, the scoop I3 is pivotally mounted between the rforwardly extending arms of a U-shaped yoke 2 at the front end of the boom. `,Sa-id yoke is secured as by welding to the ends or" two laterally space beams, each consisting of an inner plate 2b and an outer plate Z9 spaced apart at the intermedi-V ate part of the boom but with the rear ends or plates 29 converging toward their respective plates 2B where they are pivotally connected at opposite sides of the universal joint 2l on a transverse axis.

The scoop i3 Ahas curved extensions 3i), B at the rear end thereof adapted to engage the under face of the yoke 2l when the scoop is in the lowered, forward-crowding position shown in Figure l, so as to limitl further rearward pivotal movement of the scoop relative to the boom.

rPhe novel means for relieving crowding pressure on the boom includes a flexible member 32, herein a length oi chain, suitably anchored at one en'd to the cross 'shaft 33 extending transversely between the upright support members 25, 2S on the truck, and connected at its lower end to a pin 3d at the forward end of a rocking member 35. Said rocking member consists of a pair of spaced plates 36, 3S pivotally mounted on a transverse shait 33 supported at opposite ends on theinner plates 23, 23 which are widened upwardly `intermediate the ends of the boom, as shown in Figures 4, and 6. Saidboorn plates are also reinforced by plates itil, 3Q at this point.

The rocking member 35 has a transverse pin Gil yadjacent but below the shaft 35, so as to form in effect a bell crank lever, with pins @il and di) disposed at an angle to each other and rocking about shaft 8. A rod di is pivotally connected to Ypin Eil and Yex-tends rearwardly through a block i2 having-a pair oi upper and lower studs 43', 3 thereohp'ivotally connected 'to upper and lower cross arms 4s, 4-'5 extending, respectively, above and below the boom plates 2S, 22. The outer ends of said cross arms have blocls 445, 45 pivotally connected therebetween, which form end stops for a pair of 'compression coil springs 4B, d disposed, respectively, between 'the plates 28 and 25% along each side of the lboom and extending forwardly into engagement with iixed abutments di, El adjacent the yoke 2l'.

The coil springs 45, 45 are normally held under desired compression by means of an adjustable nut 53 threaded on the 'rear end of the rod lll.

Y The operation of the crowding 'relief mecha.- nism just'described may now be described as follows: The` chain $2 serves to limit the downward swinging movement of the boom-at a predetermined level as shown in full lines in Figure l, for forward crowding movement of the shovel-as it is forced into the material by forward tractive eiort of the machine. It will be observe'dthat asthe boom is dropped into this crowding position, 'the shock on the chain 32 is absorbed bythe springs 4t, i6 acting through the rocking member 235, rod lll, -and cross `arms In addition tothe cushioning effect just described, it will be observed that when the boom lli is held at its normal crowding angle relative to the truck, as shown in Figures 2 and Li, ordinary crowding pressures exerted on the boom in a horizontal direction will not aiect the springs, or the normal angular position o the boom. However, when an abnormal crowding pressure is exerted on the scoop, the angular inclination of the digging lip 2i! of the latter is such as to tend to force the scoop downwardly, so as to exert a substantial downward pull on the boom as a whole. In practice, the load or compression of the coil springs 4S, 4S may be adjusted so that the exertion of la predetermined downward pressure on the boom, resulting in an increased tension on lthe chain 32, will cause the rocking arm 3d to swing upwardly into substantially the position shown in Figure 5, in which it will be seen that the boom becomes slightly depressed from its normal angle. ln this manner excessive crowding stress on the chain 32 is substantially relieved, and the tendency to derail the machine as a whole due to such excessive crowding stresses is greatly reduced.

Moreover, the operation of the pressure relief mechanism, resulting in the downward swing of the boom, can be observed by the machine operator as a warning that an excessive crowding pressure is being exerted on the scoop.

The improved bufling and centering device employed on the boom consists of a pair of spring pressed buiier pins 50, 5E! mounted in widely spaced relation at opposite sides of the boom lll with their upper ends or heads 5I extending a substantial distance above the top of the boom, as shown in Figures 2 to 6, both inclusive. Said buffer pins are mounted on C-shaped brackets 52, 52 at opposite sides of the outer boom plates 29, 29. Each includes a coil spring 53 having its upper end engaging a collar 54 on the pin 5G and its lower end abutting the lower end of the bracket 52.

The heads 5l are adapted toengage a cross plate 55 mounted between the upright supports 25, 26 on the truck lil when the boom is swung into its upward discharging position, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, thereby acting as a cushioning device to limit the elevating movement of said boom. In addition, it will be understood that when the boom is swung laterally to one side or the other and elevated in that position, the butler pin 58 on the side of the boom to which it is swung will engage the cross plate 55 before the boom is fully raised to its discharging position, thereby exerting a rotative force on the boom, tending to swing it to its normal centered position in front of the truck, when the scoop is finally discharged on the conveyer. Accordingly, the buffer pins 50, 5@ serve not only as a cushioning device but as an automatic centering device for the boom.

Referring now in greater detail to the novel form of conveyer and belt-cushioning device therefor, the conveyer indicated generally lat I5 consists of a main or lower section @El and an upper or rear extensible section 6I. The lower section 69 has two 'tubular side `frame members 62, 62, the front ends of which are each provided with an eye 63, which'are connected to the upright supports 2S, 26 adjacent thefront end of the truck l0, as by means of a `cross shaft 64 which in theA form shown also supports the front drive roller Il for the conveyer belt f5. Ahopper -having ared front and side walls is suitably supported above the llower' end of the conveyer,as

by sidebrackets 66, 66, connected tothe upright supports 26, 26.

The rear extensible section 6| of the conveyer includes a pair of side rods 61, 61, telescopically mounted -in the rear ends of the tubular side frame members 62, 62," as shown inFigure 2, and supporting journal members 10, 10 for the idler roller I8 at the rear end of the conveyer. The side rods 61, 61 have nuts 68, 08 threaded thereon which abut the rear ends of the tubular side frame members 62, 62. j

Side trough members 1|, 1| are telescopically mounted relative to the hopper 65, the front ends of said trough members being slidably supported on braces 12, 12 projecting upwardly from clamps 13, 13 mounted on the tubular side frame member 62, and other braces 14 connected to the journal members 10. The clamps 13, 13 are supported by links 15, 15 on an upright support 1 6 at the rear end of the truck. The rear conveyer frame section 6| can be telescopically adjusted relative to the front or lower section 60 by screwing the nuts 68, 68 in one direction or the other.

The belt cushioning device includes a flanged plate 18 hinged on a transverse shaft 19 which is supported at opposite ends in the clamps 13, 13 at opposite sides of the conveyer frame. The plate 18 extends forwardly below the belt |6 to a point closely adjacent the drive roller |1 at the front of the machine. 18 is mounted for vertical yielding movement relative to the conveyer frame, as herein shown,

this yielding movement being provided through a pair of brackets 80, 80 connected to the side flanges of plate 18 and each having a depending rod 8| with an eye lapivotally connected to its outer end and extending downwardly through a horizontal abutment'82 forming part of clamp 69 secured to the adjacent tubular side frame member 62, as shown in Figures 7 to 11, both inclusive. The two clamps 69, 69 at opposite sides of the frame are cross connected by braces 88, 88. Each of the depending rods 8| has a coil spring 89 mounted thereon in compression between the abutment 82 and a collar 90 threaded near the e;

upper end of said rod. In the preferred form shown, the plate 18 is provided with a wearing strip 92 on its upper surface which is narrower than the plate 13 so that said wearing strip will fit between the side plates 1|, 1| of the rear extension member 6|, as shown in Figures 10 and 11.

An idler roller 95 is mounted on a transverse shaft 96 supported at opposite ends in a depending bracket 91 at opposite sides of the plate 18 intermediate its ends, as clearly shown in Figures 7 and 8. Said idler roller provides a tensioning support for the under surface of the lower or return reach of the belt I6.

'I'he operation of the belt cushioning device just described is as follows: When normal loads are being carried by the belt, the latter will slide along the upper surface of the wearing strip 92 but without causing substantial compression of the springs 89, 89 supporting the front end of the cushioning plate 18. When excessive loads are deposited on the front end of the conveyer belt, as by dropping excessively large lumps of material from the scoop, the cushioning plate 18 and the wearing strip 92 will be depressed to a position shown in dotted lines in Figure 8 and in full lines in Figure 11. It will be noted, however, that the idler roller 95 moves with the hinged cushioning plate 18, so as to release tension on the lower or return reach of the belt I6, thereby compensating for the downward movement of The front end of the plate the upper reach of the belt as it is moved vinto its depressed position. In this manner the belt is not only protected against excessive shocks and resulting wear due to excessive loads deposited thereon, but it is maintained at substantially uniform tension at all times.

Referring now to the propelling mechanism for the truck and the drive mechanism for the wind- Vmeans of a cone clutch |01 of any suitable form. A drive chain |08 is trained over the sprocket |06 and is led forwardly to drive a sprocket |09 connected to the drive roller |1 for the conveyer belt |6 (see Figures 2 and '1) The gear |03 is meshed with a gear |19 keyed to thetransverse shaft 24 which as previously mentioned has the winding drums 23, 23 mounted thereon for controlling the rnc-vement of the scoop I3. Said shaft has suitable bearings at opposite sides of the truck |8. Each of the drums 23 is driven by a planetary gear device indicated generally at ||2. These planetary gears are similar, so a description of one will sufnce for an understanding of both. i

A sun gear H3 is keyed on the shaft 24 and is meshed with one or more planetary gears H4. Each gear 4 is mounted on a shaft |5 supported in a cage H6 having a hub ||1 keyed to' a hub ||8 of the drum 23. Each planetary gear ||4 is meshed with an internal gear member ||9 loosely mounted 0n shaft |24 and controlled as usual by a friction band |22 mounted on the periphery of said internal gear member. The arrangement is such that when the friction band is released, the internal gear member ||9 is free to rotate so that there is no power transmitted from shaft 24 to the drum 23. When the friction band is tightened to restrain movement of the internal gear member H9, the planetary gear ||4 is driven within the internal gear so as to rotate the cage member ||6 at a reduced speed and thus drive the drum 23 which is connected to the latter.

Two planetary gear devices |20 and |2i are also mounted on shaft 24 to afford driving connections in opposite directions to the axles |2, I2 and their track wheels The planetary gear device |20 may be substantially the same as the planetary gear devices 2 and 4 and includes a cage |21 keyed to a sleeve |23, which sleeve also has apinion |34 keyed thereon. Said pinion is meshed with idler or reach gears |25, |25, which in turn are meshed with gears |26 keyed to the axles I2, |2.

The planetary gear device |2| differs from the planetary gear devices ||2 and |20 in that it has an internal gear member |28 keyed to the sleeve |23, whereas its cage member |29 which carries a planetary gear |30 thereon, is rotatably mounted on the shaft 24 under control of a friction band |3I.

When the cage member |29 is held from rotation by the friction band |3|, there will be a direct geared drive to the sleeve |23 through the planetary pinion |30 and the internal gear |28, keyed to said sleeve. The internal gear |28 of the planetary |2| thus serves as a driving memwhich is held from rotation, serves as a reaction member, and the planetary pinion of said planetary walks about the inside of said internal gear `and drives the cage i 21 within which it is mounted by its orbital movement about said internal gear, which causes said cage to rotate in a direction which is reverse from the direction said. internal gear 23 is driven by the pinion |33.

It will be observed that in the gearing arrangement disclosed herein the drums 23 are driven by the planetaries H2 in the same direction of rotation as the shaft 2li. The same applies to the planetary I which is arranged to drive the truck wheels in a forward direction for forcing or crowding the scoop into the material being dug. This arrangement wherein both the driving and driven members rotate in the same direction,

is found to afford maximum efficiency in planetary gear devices of this character. Nioreover,

the arrangement of all of the planetary gear devices on the same shaft, a herein disclosed, provides a most compact and efficient design, which is particularly desirable in loading machines of this character which must operate within limited spaces such as in mines or tunnels.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which my invention may be embodied, it will be understood that the construction thereof and the arrangement of the various parts may be altered without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Furthermore, I do not wish to be construed as limiting my invention to the specific embodiment illustrated, excepting as it may be limited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a mucking machine, a main frame mounted on track wheels, a boom hinged to and projecting forwardly from said frame, a scoop pivotally mounted on the end of said boom and adapted to dig by bodily movement of the machine along the track, flexible means between said main frame and said boom for limiting the downward swinging movement of said boom at a predetermined digging level, said iiexible means having yieldable connection with said boom including normally loaded spring means adapted to relieve endwise tilting stresses transmitted to the machine under excessive digging pressures exerted on the scoop.

2. In a mucking machine, a main frame mounted on track wheels, a boom hinged to and projecting forwardly from said frame, a scoop pivotally mounted on the end of said boom and adapted to dig by bodily movement of the machine along the track, flexible means between said main frame and said boom for limiting the downward swinging movement of said boom at a predetermined digging level, said flexible means having yieldable connection with said boom and including a flexible member connected to said main frame, a rocking member pivoted on said boom and having said iiexible member connected thereto, land normally loaded spring means disposed longitudinally of said boom adapted to resist pivotal movement of said rocking member against the tension of said fiexible member.

3. In a mucking machine, a main frame mounted on track wheels, a boom hinged to and projecting forwardly from said frame, a scoop pivotally mounted on the end of said boom and adapted to dig by bodily movement of the machine along the track, iiexible means between said main frame and said boom for limiting the downward swinging movement of said b-oom at a predetermined digging level, said fieXible means having yieldable connection with said boom and including a flexible member connected to said main frame, a rocking member pivoted on said boom and having said flexible member connected thereto, spring means disposed longitudinally of said boom to resist pivotal movement of said rocking member against the tension of said exible member, and means for adjusting the tension of said spring means so as to yield at a predetermined tension on said flexible means.

4. A loading machine comprising a frame, a conveyor mounted thereon, a boom pivotally mounted on said frame adjacent the receiving end of said conveyer, a scoop on said boom, a pair of independently controlled chains connected to said boom for swinging the same sidewise in opposite directions to engage material located to either side of the machine, and to lift said boom into discharging position relative to said conveyer, and a pair of projecting buffer pins at opposite sides of said boomarranged to engage an abutment on said main frame when said boom is partially elevated while swung to either side of the machine, and thereby cause said boom to swing toward the center of the machine before it is fully elevated to discharging position relative to said conveyer.

5. In a loading machine, a main frame mounted on track wheels, a boom pivotally mounted at the front end of said frame and adapted to dig by bodily movement of the machine along the track, a pair of winding drums having flexible means connected to opposite sides of said boom for swinging the latter verticallyand sidewise, said winding drums being rotatably mounted on a power driven shaft disposed transversely of said frame, friction-controlled planetary gear devices on said transverse drive shaft affording independent or simultaneous operative connection between said shaft and said winding drums, and other friction-controlled planetary gear devices on said transverse drive shaft affording reversible operative connection between said shaft and the track wheels of the machine to propel said machine in opposite directions.

ANTHONY R. BIEDESS. 

